ECE 606 Homework Week 7 Mark Lundstrom Purdue University (revised 2/25/13) 1) Consider an n- type semiconductor for which the only states in the bandgap are donor levels (i.e. ( E T = E D ). Begin with the SRH formula: 2 np! n R = i ( n + n 1 )" p + ( p + p 1 )" n where ( n 1 = n i e E T! "E i ) k B T ( and p 1 = n i e E i! E T " ) k B T 1a) Derive an expression for the low- injection, minority hole lifetime. 1b) Explain mathematically why donor levels are not efficient recombination centers. 1c) Explain physically why donor levels are not efficient recombination centers. 2) When computing SRH recombination rates, we usually focus on defects with energy levels near the middle of the bandgap. Beginning with the SRH expression, show that states near the middle of the bandgap have the largest effect on the SRH recombination rate. 3) Defect states come in two flavors. A donor- like state is positive when empty and neutral when filled. An acceptor- like state is neutral when empty and negative when filled. These states have different cross sections for electrons and holes. For example, when empty, a donor- like state has a large cross section for electron capture because there is a Coulombic attraction (a typical number might be 3!10 "13 cm 2 ). When a donor like state is filled, it is neutral and has a small cross section for holes (typically the radius of the defect itself, or about 10!15 cm - 2 ). 3a) Assume an N- type silicon sample with an RG center concentration of 10 12 cm - 3. Assume room temperature, so that! th " 10 7 cm/s. Compute the minority hole lifetime assuming that the defects are donor-like. ECE- 606 1
3b) Repeat 3a) assuming that the defects are acceptor-like. 4) The Fermi function gives the probability that a state in the conduction or valence band is occupied. One might think that the probability that a state in the forbidden gap (i.e. a trap or recombination center) would also be given by the Fermi function, but this is not quite right. Begin with eqn. (5.9a) in ASF, simplify it for equilibrium, and obtain the correct result. Problems 5) 13): The following problems concern the Minority Carrier Diffusion equation for electrons as follows:!"n!t = D n d 2 "n dx 2 # "n $ n + For all the following problems, assume silicon at room temperature, uniformly doped with N A = 10 17 cm - 3, µ n = 300 cm 2 /V sec,! n = 10 "6 s. From these numbers, we find: D n = k B T q µ n = 7.8 cm2 s L n = D n! n = 27.9 µm Unless otherwise stated, these parameters apply to all of the problems below. 5) The sample is uniformly illuminated with light, resulting in an optical generation rate = 10 20 cm - 3 sec - 1. Find the steady- state excess minority carrier concentration and the QFL s F n and F p. Assume spatially uniform conditions, and approach the problem as follows. 5a) Simplify the Minority Carrier Diffusion Equation for this problem. 5b) Specify the initial and boundary conditions, as appropriate for this problem. 5c) Solve the problem. 5d) Provide a sketch of the solution, and explain it in words. 6) The sample has been uniformly illuminated with light for a long time. The optical generation rate is = 10 20 cm - 3 sec - 1. At t = 0, the light is switched off. Find the excess minority carrier concentration and the QFL s vs. time. Assume spatially uniform conditions, and approach the problem as follows. 6a) Simplify the Minority Carrier Diffusion Equation for this problem. 6b) Specify the initial and boundary conditions, as appropriate for this problem. 6c) Solve the problem. ECE- 606 2
6d) Provide a sketch of the solution, and explain it in words. 7) The sample is uniformly illuminated with light, resulting in an optical generation rate = 10 20 cm - 3 sec- 1. The minority carrier lifetime is 1 μsec, except for a thin layer (10 nm wide near x = 0 where the lifetime is 0.1 nsec. Find the steady state excess minority carrier concentration and QFL s vs. position. You may assume that the sample extends to x = +!. HINT: treat the thin layer at the surface as a boundary condition do not try to resolve Δn( x) inside this thin layer. Approach the problem as follows. 7a) Simplify the Minority Carrier Diffusion Equation for this problem. 7b) Specify the initial and boundary conditions, as appropriate for this problem. 7c) Solve the problem. 7d) Provide a sketch of the solution, and explain it in words. 8) The sample is uniformly illuminated with light, resulting in an optical generation rate = 10 24 cm - 3 sec - 1, but all of the photons are absorbed in a thin layer (10 nm wide near x = 0). Find the steady state excess minority carrier concentration and QFL s vs. position. You may assume that the sample extends to x = +!. HINT: treat the thin layer at the surface as a boundary condition do not try to resolve Δn( x) inside this thin layer. Approach the problem as follows. 8a) Simplify the Minority Carrier Diffusion Equation for this problem. 8b) Specify the initial and boundary conditions, as appropriate for this problem. 8c) Solve the problem. 8d) Provide a sketch of the solution, and explain it in words. 9) The sample is uniformly illuminated with light, resulting in an optical generation rate = 10 24 cm - 3 sec - 1, but all of the photons are absorbed in a thin layer (10 nm wide near x = 0). Find the steady state excess minority carrier concentration and QFL s vs. position. Assume that the semiconductor is only 5 μm long. You may also assume that there is an ideal ohmic contact at x = L = 5μm, which enforces equilibrium conditions at all times. Make reasonable approximations, and approach the problem as follows. HINT: treat the thin layer at the surface as a boundary condition do not try to resolve Δn x ( ) inside this thin layer. 9a) Simplify the Minority Carrier Diffusion Equation for this problem. 9b) Specify the initial and boundary conditions, as appropriate for this problem. 9c) Solve the problem. 9d) Provide a sketch of the solution, and explain it in words. ECE- 606 3
10) The sample is in the dark, but the excess carrier concentration at x = 0 is held constant at!n 0 ( ) = 10 12 cm- 3. Find the steady state excess minority carrier concentration and QFL s vs. position. You may assume that the sample extends to x = +!. Make reasonable approximations, and approach the problem as follows. 10a) Simplify the Minority Carrier Diffusion Equation for this problem. 10b) Specify the initial and boundary conditions, as appropriate for this problem. 10c) Solve the problem. 10d) Provide a sketch of the solution, and explain it in words. 11) The sample is in the dark, and the excess carrier concentration at x = 0 is held constant at!n 0 ( ) = 10 12 cm - 3. Find the steady state excess minority carrier concentration and QFL s vs. position. Assume that the semiconductor is only 5 μm long. You may also assume that there is an ideal ohmic contact at x = L = 5μm, which enforces equilibrium conditions at all times. Make reasonable approximations, and approach the problem as follows. 11a) Simplify the Minority Carrier Diffusion Equation for this problem. 11b) Specify the initial and boundary conditions, as appropriate for this problem. 11c) Solve the problem. 11d) Provide a sketch of the solution, and explain it in words. 12) The sample is in the dark, and the excess carrier concentration at x = 0 is held constant at!n 0 ( ) = 10 12 cm - 3. Find the steady state excess minority carrier concentration and QFL s vs. position. Assume that the semiconductor is 30 μm long. You may also assume that there is an ideal ohmic contact at x = L = 30 μm, which enforces equilibrium conditions at all times. Make reasonable approximations, and approach the problem as follows. 12a) Simplify the Minority Carrier Diffusion Equation for this problem. 12b) Specify the initial and boundary conditions, as appropriate for this problem. 12c) Solve the problem. 12d) Provide a sketch of the solution, and explain it in words. 13) Consider a sample that extends from!5 " x " 200 μm. The sample is illuminated with light, resulting in an optical generation rate = 10 24 cm - 3 sec - 1, but all of the photons are absorbed in a very thin layer (10 nm wide centered about x = 0). Assume that half of the carriers generated in this region diffuse to the left and half to the right. You may also assume that there are ideal ohmic contacts, which enforce equilibrium conditions at all times located at x =!5 μm and at x = 200 μm. Find the ECE- 606 4
steady state excess minority carrier concentration and QFL s vs. position. Make reasonable approximations, and approach the problem as follows. 13a) Simplify the Minority Carrier Diffusion Equation for this problem. 13b) Specify the initial and boundary conditions, as appropriate for this problem. 13c) Solve the problem. 13d) Provide a sketch of the solution, and explain it in words. ECE- 606 5